November 19, 2015
Contact: April Melllody and Lee Whack

DNCC Names Executive Producers for 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

Emmy Award Winning Producer Ricky Kirshner, Production Veteran Vicangelo Bulluck to Oversee Production of Convention Program

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that Emmy Award winning producer Ricky Kirshner and seasoned creative producer Vicangelo Bulluck will serve as Executive Producers for the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Together, Kirshner and Bulluck will craft and implement a program to transform the Wells Fargo Center into the most engaging, innovative, and forward looking Convention in history. As Executive Producers, the pair will be responsible for the overall look and execution of the Convention program including the design, staging, lighting, audio and entertainment.

“Come July 2016, the world’s spotlight will shine on Philadelphia and the Democratic Party,” said Rev. Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “We are confident that this production team will give us a winning combination of experience, professionalism, and fresh ideas that will give our attendees and viewers at home a stellar experience.”
 
Bulluck executive produced the NAACP Image Awards for 10 years, producing performances by major musical artists and tributes to luminaries such as Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Bono and then Senator Barack Obama. He is credited with taking the show live in network prime time on FOX and NBC, making it America's premier multicultural award show. He also served as the Managing Director of Outreach and Special Events for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. At the Academy, Bulluck implemented their diversity and international initiatives, and managed the production of the Governors Awards, the Sci-Tech Awards, the Student Academy Awards and the first-ever Oscars Concert.  
 
“I am honored to be working with Ricky and to be a part of the DNCC team. This will be the most digitally-integrated convention in history, with a reach far beyond the walls of the convention hall,” said Bulluck, who opened the Hollywood Bureau office of the national NAACP and was its first executive director.

Ricky Kirshner is a 9 time Emmy-winning producer and winner of both a Peabody and Edward R. Murrow Award. Kirshner has worked on the production team of every Convention since 1992, and served as an Executive Producer for the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte as well as the 2008 Convention in Denver. After a successful 2008 Convention, Kirshner oversaw all televised events celebrating the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

“It is a great honor to once again be a part of the DNCC Production Team,” said Kirshner. “We look forward to bringing to the world the message of the party and our nominee in many new, fresh, and exciting ways.”
Kirshner has produced the Super Bowl Pregame and Halftime Show (the most watched TV event of the year)- touting a record which features artists like Prince, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars since 2007.  Kirshner has also produced many Emmy-winning Tony Awards shows from 1993 through 2015.
 
About the Democratic National Convention
The 2016 Democratic Convention will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia July 25-28, 2016.   Working in partnership with the Philadelphia Host Committee, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, our goal is to make this the most engaging, innovative and forward looking Convention in history.  The 2016 Democratic National Convention will leverage technology to take the Convention experience well beyond the hall in an effort to engage more Americans than ever before in the event.  With the birthplace of American Democracy as a backdrop, the 2016 convention in Philadelphia will highlight our shared Democratic values and help put the Democratic nominee on a path to victory.
 
The Democratic Convention is the formal nominating event for the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President.  At the Convention, the Democratic Party also adopts the official Democratic Party platform as well as the rules and procedures governing party activities including the nomination process for presidential candidates in the next election cycle.
 
The CEO for the 2016 Democratic National Convention is Reverend Leah D. Daughtry.
 
The official website of the 2016 Democratic National Convention is www.demconvention.com
 
 
 
Lee Whack
Press Secretary
Democratic National Convention Committee